James latheop



J. LATHROP.

(No Model.)

WHIP SOCKET.

No. 388,368. Patented Aug. 21 1888.

.UNI S ATES ATENT ()FFICE.

JAMES LATHBOP, OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WVILLIAML. BEACH, OF SAME PLACE.

WHIP-SOCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,368, dated August21, 1888.

Application filed April 2, 1888. Serial No. 269,312.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES LATHROP, a citizen of the United States,residing at Norwich, in the county ofNew London and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in\Vhip-Sockets, which improvements are fully set forth and described inthe following specification, reference being had to the accompanyingsheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of awhip socket ofmy improved form, and Fig. 2a central vertical section of the same.

This invention relates to whip-sockets, and has for its immediate objectthe improvement of such devices, so that they may serve the doublepurpose of whip and rein holder. By thus combining the two devices inone I am able to conceal in a measure the rein-holder, instead of havingit prominently displayed on the top or end of the dashboard, as isnecessary with many of the reinholders now in common use. My newconstruction is such that it adds but little to the cost of the socket.It also locates the reiuholder at one side of the vehicle, where thereins when held by it are out of the way of the horses tail.

Referring to the drawings, the letter a denotes the barrel of thesocket, the upper portion being adapted to receive a whip in the usualmanner, aspring, b, (secured within said barrel by a rivet, 0,) beingprovided to prevent the whip from rattling or jumping out. Projectinglaterally from said barrel about midway of its length is a lug or plate,d,which (No model.)

forms the fixed jaw of my rein-holder. \Vithin said barrel is a disk, 6,having a. jaw, 0, projecting laterally through a longitudinal slot, g,in barrel a, said jaw being held normally upward in engagement with itscompanion jaw by a strong spiral spring, h, seated in barrel a, belowthe disk e, as illustratedin Fig. 2. Disk 6 has preferably a stud, i,projecting downward through a hole in the end of the barrel, which studserves to prevent the rocking or displacement of disk e and its attachedjaw. This disk e forms the bottom of the whip-socket proper and supportsthe whip when it is in said socket.

Assuming now that a whip is in plaeein the socket and that it is desiredto use the reinholder, the jaw e may be depressed by pressing downwardwith said whip. When the jaws e d are opened sufficiently, the reins areplaced between them and the pressure of the whip released, when spring himmediately raises jaw 0 with force enough to firmly clamp and supportthe reins. When it again be comes necessary to release the reins, thewhip is grasped and pushed downward, as above described, when the reinsmay be removed.

I claim as my invention A whipsocket with a laterally-projecting fixedjaw, having in combination therewith a movable jaw actuated by a springwithin the barrel of the socket, substantially as set forth.

JAMES LATHROP.

Witnesses:

ALLEN TENNY, FRANK H. ALLEN.

